Published February 6, 2020
By DAN ZIMMERMAN
HAVERHILL — There are few suitable words to characterize what took place during Saturday night’s hockey rematch between the North Reading Hornets and host, Pentucket. Astonishing, perhaps? Astounding? One thing is for certain, however – it is unlikely that any of the onlookers will ever forget what transpired in the waning moments of this game.
Trailing by a pair of goals, 4-2, with minutes left, North Reading coach Brian McAuliffe exchanged goaltender Cam Alter for an extra attacker. The strategy, which often backfires, yielded a goal. And then, in the final minute, the wheels came off Pentucket’s game as the Hornets reeled off three more to prevail in dramatic fashion, 6-4.
With the stunning win over Pentucket, North Reading improved to 7-5-3 overall and with five games remaining, needs just three points to qualify for the postseason.
“This was a huge two points for us,” said McAuliffe, who has successfully turned last season’s two-win program into a tournament contender. “Coming in tonight and facing a team that had one win, it might have been a little human nature for our kids not being up for the game, especially after beating two really good teams this week.”
BILLY McCANN had a night to remember against Pentucket on Saturday. He scored a hat trick and helped the Hornets turn a 4-2 deficit with just over four minutes remaining into a 6-4 win. (Dan Pawlowski File Photo)
McAuliffe was referring to a captivating 2-0 shutout performance over Danvers, a top-notch club which derailed North Reading, 5-0, in a pre-season scrimmage and then days later, toppling Newburyport, 3-2, a team which had also handed the Hornets a 5-0 defeat in an earlier meeting.
“I’d go back even a little further, to the scoreless tie with Lynnfield,” answered McAuliffe, when asked about the striking turnaround. “We took a brief step back with Triton but that had to do with a number of guys down with illness. After that, they began to transform into the cohesive team I’ve been hoping to see.”
On Wednesday, Newburyport jumped out to a quick lead on a power play goal but then it was all North Reading, responding during the second and third periods with a trio of unanswered scores from Matt Ryan, Jonathan Patch, and Bill McCann. Throughout the contest, the Hornets were flying to the puck and carving out a number of offensive chances. Meanwhile, Alter held the fort in net, turning aside 25 Newburyport shots.
“We had a great product out there against Newburyport,” McAuliffe said. “They were mentally focused and ready to pounce. We made an adjustment by shortening shifts a little bit which allowed us to maximize their speed and energy. We’ve been emphasizing quick reactions and smart positioning in all three zones and I think it’s paying off.”
In an early January meeting with Pentucket, North Reading was fresh off a 5-0 debacle in the first bout with Newburyport. Needless to say, the Hornets feasted on the Sachems, easily outpacing the visitors, 8-2. And in Saturday’s rematch at Veteran’s Memorial, they seemed to be heading down a similar path, claiming an early 1-0 lead on a goal from Alex VerColen, who polished off a nice feed from Frank Brachanow. But as the first period ticked down, the Hornets inexplicably let down their guard and the Sachems made them pay, scoring a pair in the final 16 seconds.
After the break, North Reading rallied behind the prolific Bill McCann, who was skating with authority. McCann, who would ultimately tally a hat trick, finished off a solo rush, beating Pentucket goaltender Ben Guertin five-hole.
McCann’s efforts aside, North Reading suffered another letdown at the outset of the third period, allowing the Sachems to climb into a 4-2 lead with a pair of goals 1:14 apart.
With more than four minutes remaining and down two, McAuliffe pushed the pause button and signaled for a time-out. When the players returned to the ice, one remained on the bench.
“Statistically, you’re better off taking your goalie out if you’re down two with five minutes left,” explained McAuliffe, when asked about pulling Alter so early. “I knew it was a gutsy move at the time but I felt it was the right thing to do.”
Prescient comments, indeed. In a frenzied sequence, McCann struck with his second of the night to draw to within a goal. With 57 seconds left, and the Hornets on a power play, Matt Ryan tied it at four. With 39 seconds left, North Reading was ahead on a clutch goal from Nicholas Pasquale. And finally, with Guertin out of the net, it was a fitting finish when McCann sent home an empty-netter.
“Pentucket was up for this game and they were really flying at times,” McAuliffe said. “They outworked us through the first two periods. But we stayed the course and rode it out. Looking up at the scoreboard and the clock when we were down two, a tie would have been welcome. It was great to get out of there with two points tonight.”
North Reading will host Amesbury on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. for Senior Night at Kasabuski, followed by a matinee visit to Haverhill Valley Forum to play Masconomet on Saturday at 1:15 p.m.
